Our scouts have found th' adventure very easy:
That as Ulysses and stout Diomede

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;
So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,
At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize himself; I say not, slaughter him,
For I intend but only to surprise him.—
You that will follow me to(183) this attempt
Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

[They all cry "Henry!"

Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort:
For Warwick and his friends God and Saint George!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Edward's camp, near Warwick.

Enter certain Watchmen, before the King's tent.

First Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his stand:

The king, by this, is set him down to sleep.

Second Watch. What, will he not to bed?

First Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow Never to lie and take his natural rest

Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd.

Second Watch. To-morrow, then, belike shall be the day, If Warwick be so near as men report.

Third Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that That with the king here resteth in his tent?

First Watch. 'Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest

friend.

Third Watch. O, is it so? But why commands the king That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,

While he himself keeps here in the cold field ?(134)

Second Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because more dan

gerous.

Third Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness; I like it better than a dangerous honour.

If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,

'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

First Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. Second Watch. Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent,

But to defend his person from night-foes?

Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and Forces.

War. This is his tent; and see where stand his guard. Courage, my masters! honour now or never!

But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

First Watch. Who goes there?

Second Watch. Stay, or thou diest!

[Warwick and the rest cry, "Warwick! Warwick!" and set upon the Guard, who fly, crying, "Arm! arm!" Warwick and the rest following them.

Drums beating and trumpets sounding, re-enter WARWICK and the rest, bringing the King out in his gown, sitting in a chair. GLOSTER and HASTINGS are seen flying.

Som. What are they that fly there?

War. Richard and Hastings: let them go; here's the

duke.

K. Edw. The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted last (135)

Thou call'dst me king.

War.

Ay, but the case is alter'd:

When you disgrac'd me in my embassade,

Then I degraded you from being king,
And come now to create you'
(136) Duke of York.
Alas, how should you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to use ambassadors;
Nor how to be contented with one wife;
Nor how to use your brothers brotherly;
Nor how to study for the people's welfare;

Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too ?(137)

Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down.—

Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,

Of thee thyself and all thy complices,

Edward will always bear himself as king:
Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,
My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.

War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king:
[Takes off his crown.

But Henry now shall wear the English crown,
And be true king indeed; thou but the shadow.-
My Lord of Somerset, at my request,

See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd
Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.

(138)

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell him there what answer(1
Louis and the Lady Bona send to him.-
Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.

K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

[Exit, led out; Somerset with him.

Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do,

But march to London with our soldiers?

War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do; To free King Henry from imprisonment,

And see him seated in the regal throne.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. London. A room in the palace.

Enter Queen ELIZABETH and RIVERS.

Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward?

Riv. What, loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick?
Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person.

Riv. Then, is my sovereign slain?

Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner; Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard,

Or by his foe surpris'd at unawares:

And, as I further have to understand,

Is new(139) committed to the Bishop of York,

Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe.

Riv. These news, I must confess, are full of grief;

Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may:

Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

Q. Eliz. Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay.

And I the rather wean me from despair,

For love of Edward's offspring in my womb:
This is it that makes me bridle passion,
And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross;
Ay, ay, for this I draw-in many a tear,
And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown.

King Edward's fruit, true heir to th' English crown.

Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick, then, become?
Q. Eliz. I am informed that he comes towards London,
To set the crown once more on Henry's head :

Guess thou the rest; King Edward's friends must down.
But, to prevent the tyrant's violence,-

For trust not him that hath once broken faith,-
I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,

To save at least the heir of Edward's right :
There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.
Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly:
If Warwick take us, we are sure to die.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. A park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, Sir WILLIAM STANLEY, and others. Glo. Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley, Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,

Into this chiefest thicket of the park.

Thus stands (140) the case: you know our king, my brother,
Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands

He hath good usage and great liberty;
And, often but attended with weak guard,
Comes41) hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advértis'd him by secret means,

That if about this hour he make this way,

Under the colour of his usual game,

He shall here find his friends, with horse and men,
To set him free from his captivity.

Enter King EDWARD and a Huntsman.

Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.

K. Edw. Nay, this way, man: see where the huntsmen

stand.

Now, brother of Gloster, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer?

Glo. Brother, the time and case requireth haste:
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.

K. Edw. But whither shall we then?

Hast. To Lynn, my lord; and ship(142) from thence to

Flanders.

Glo. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning. (143)

K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

Glo. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk.

K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along?
Hunt. Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.

Glo. Come then, away; let's ha' no more ado.

K. Edw. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown;

And

pray that I

may repossess the crown.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. London. A room in the Tower.

Enter King HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, young RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Attendants.

K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and friends Have shaken Edward from the regal seat, And turn'd my captive state to liberty, My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,—

At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;